By Keith Idec
Gennady Golovkin wasn’t smiling for a change Wednesday.
The undefeated middleweight champion, apparently angry about Canelo Alvarez testing positive for Clenbuterol, called the ordeal “a big problem” for him, Alvarez and the sport during a media event at trainer Abel Sanchez’s gym in Big Bear Lake, California. Golovkin is training for their middleweight championship rematch, scheduled for May 5 in Las Vegas, and expects their HBO Pay-Per-View bout still to take place that night.
The Kazakhstan native remains very concerned, however, about Alvarez twice testing positive in February for a trace amount of Clenbuterol, a banned anabolic substance that can enter someone’s system from contaminated meat. Though numerous athletes have tested positive for Clenbuterol from contaminated meat, particularly in China and Mexico, Golovkin wants more answers.
“I’m very sad because I’m a professional athlete and he’s a professional athlete,” Golovkin said as part of an interview with Hoy Deportes, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Times. “Seriously, he, his team, everybody understands the situation. And if he has tested positive, this is [a] problem. This is a big problem for [the] sport and for us, of course, yeah.”
Mexico’s Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) called this predicament “embarrassing” in a statement released Monday. The 27-year-old Alvarez also is willing to be tested even more than usual by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to prove that he’ll be completely clean entering their second fight.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission also is conducting an investigation. If satisfied that Alvarez’s positive tests stemmed from contaminated meat, the NSAC will give its official approval to move forward with the biggest fight of 2018.
When asked during the aforementioned interview if he thinks Alvarez knowingly used Clenbuterol, which often is used to help cut weight, the 35-year-old Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) didn’t directly answer the question.
“You know, just ask him,” Golovkin said. “Ask him. Ask his team. I think his team, all [of the] team, all promotions, all everybody, you know, are smart guys, not crazy. Because before, so many people, you know, a lot of people, a lot of athletes, have problems, the same [problem].”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
